
< WjC,^ 



PRESENTED MY 



JOHN CHANDLER 

OF WORCESTER 

HIS WILL 



BY CHARLES A. CHASE 



PAPER READ BEFORE THE 

WORCESTER SOCIETY OF 
ANTIQUITY 

Tuesday, November 7, 1905. 



THE BLANCHARD PRESS. 
Worcester, Mass. 



4-3 



8o< 



JOHN CHANDLER OF WORCESTER AND HIS WILL. 

By Charles A. Chase. 

The history of the Chandler family in its connection 
with the town of Worcester from the establishment of the 
county in 1731 to the beginning of the Revolution is like a 
crop of rich straw, which, though often threshed, yields 
enough wheat to repay the thresher at each operation. An 
important discovery which I made in tracing the title of 
the "down-town farm" of the last John Chandler 1 leads me 
to present it. to this Society. It is like a fly which, having 
been preserved in amber for one hundred and forty years, 
is at last set free. 

On the establishment of the county of Worcester in 1731 
the new public offices which were created were, of course, 
open to all of its inhabitants, to be filled by such as were 
deemed most worthy and best equipped. The town of 
Woodstock, then a part of Massachusetts, but afterwards 
set off to Connecticut, was included in the new county. 
In Woodstock dwelt one John Chandler, who, according to 
William Lincoln, Worcester's first historian, "possessed 
strong natural powers, with slight advantages of educa- 
tion." He was appointed as the first judge of probate, 
chief justice of the Court of General Sessions and Inferior 
Court of Common Pleas, and colonel of the regiment of 
militia. He resigned as judge of probate in 1740, and was 
succeeded by Joseph Wilder of Lancaster. He never lived 
in Worcester; and to distinguish him from his son and 
grandson, both bearing his name, I choose, when speaking 
of him, to call him "Woodstock John." He died on Aug. 
10, 1743. 



1 See Proceedings of American Antiquarian Society, October, 1901, 
and a correction in same, October 1907. 



4 John Chandler and His Will. 

The son of the above-named John Chandler, John, Jr. — ■ 
the subject of this paper — came to Worcester in 1731. He 
was so closely connected with the affairs of the town and 
county for thirty-one years until his death that, to distin- 
guish him from his father and his son, I style him "Wor- 
cester John. ' ' He was Clerk of Courts from 1731 to 1754, 
and Judge from 1754 until 1762; Sheriff from 1751 to 
1762; County Treasurer from 1731 (probably) to 1757; 
Register of Deeds and Register of Probate from 1731 to 
1757, and Judge of Probate from 1756-7 to 1762. He 
served for several years on the Board of Selectmen, was 
Town Treasurer from 1741 to 1752, was almost always 
Moderator at town meetings, and was for several years 
Representative to the General Court. He died on Aug. 7, 
1762. It would almost seem as if the writer of the comic 
opera, "The Mikado," had conceived the character of 
"Pooh-Bah" from reading the history of Worcester John. 

I will not follow here the career of the next John Chan- 
dler, "the honest refugee." It may be gleaned from the 
pages of Lincoln and of Caleb A. Wall, and from other 
sources which I have indicated. 

In tracing the title of the American Antiquarian Society 
to the site of its original library building at the southeast 
corner of Summer and Belmont Streets, I found that while 
it was originally purchased by Worcester John, it formed a 
part of the estate of Refugee John at the time when the 
latter 's property was confiscated by the Commonwealth. 
I could find no deed from father to son made in the for- 
mer's lifetime. To my great surprise, the records of the 
Probate Court did not show that the estate of Worcester 
John had ever been probated in this county — a remarkable 
fact in view of his large holdings of land, and because it 
seemed probable that he must have acquired a good share 
of personal property. The will of Woodstock John was 
duly probated, and the proceedings in reference to the con- 



John Chandler and His Will. 5 

fiscation of Refugee John's estate, and the sale of certain 
portions thereof, made a considerable addition to the pro- 
bate archives. It became necessary, therefore, to renew 
the search in the Registry of Deeds. My search was at last 
partially rewarded by finding a deed from Sarah Chand- 
ler, widow, to her two "sons-in-law" [step-sons], John and 
Gardiner Chandler, of all the right in her deceased hus- 
band's real estate which she might have as her "dower 
therein by law, and the last will and testament of said 
deceased. ' ' 

So there had been a will, but where could it be found? 
A continued hunt in the Registry of Deeds revealed a 
deed 1 from Gardiner Chandler to his brother John (the 
refugee) wherein, in consideration of £506 13s. 6 d., lawful 
money, he conveys his two-fifths of the homestead estate of 
their father, containing 190 acres, more or less, and agrees 
to warrant the same against all persons claiming under 
him and against the creditors of their father, and against 
legacies to be paid. 

This last deed gave a clue to the hiding-place of the will. 
It must be looked for among the records of the Supreme 
Court of Judicature at Boston- — and there I found it. 

At this point it might be of interest to go into the his- 
tory of the Probate Court, and to show that while it 
existed in name from an early period in the various coun- 
ties, it was but a creation of the Supreme Court and did 
not have the independent existence which it afterwards 
acquired. Prior to the arrival of Andros, probate jurisdic- 
tion had been exercised by the courts of common law. He 
introduced a system of forms and proceedings for the pro- 
bate courts, but retained the control. The Probate Court, 
as now known, was established. 

In the case before us the testator was succeeded as judge 



1 Dated April 4, 1763, in Book 55, page 213. 



6 John Chandler and His Will. 

of probate by his own son, to whom the father gave three- 
fifths of his real estate. It might be desired to probate the 
will before the new appointment was made, or at any rate 
it would not be proper for the son to sit in the case. Now- 
adays the judge or the register would call in a judge from 
an adjacent county. At that time the proper thing was to 
take it to the high court at Boston. 

Here follows the will : 

THE WILL. 

I, John Chandler of Worcester in the County of Worcester and 
Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Esq r being in a 
good degree of health at the writing hereof do make and Ordain this 
Instrument (all wrote by my own hand) to be my last Will and 
Testament and whenever it shall please Almighty God to take me 
from this World (and I know not how soon I may die) I most 
humbly recommend my Immortal Soul unto him hoping to Obtain 
Eternal Life and Salvation thro' : the alone Merrits of my Saviour 
Jesus Christ. My body I commit to the Earth by decent burial, 
believing the Comfortable Doctrine of the Resurrection by the power 
of God. And as to such Worldy Estate as God has blessed me with 
I dispose of the same as follows. I Will that my Just debts and 
Funeral Charges be first paid by my Executors herein after to be 
named . 

I give to my beloved Wife Sarah Chandler (A) 1 One hundred and 
seventy three pounds six shillings and eight pence Lawful money 
Value to be paid in money plate and household goods with all the 
Books she brought me also one bed with all proper furniture of all 
sorts. Also my riding Chair horse and harness I may leave at my 
death said Horse to be well kept by my Executors one Year for my 
said Wife. Also a full compleat suit of mourning and a mourning 
Ring what I have thus given to my Wife to be in full of all Sorts of 
Claims on my personal Estate. 

I give to my said Wife in Lieu of her Right of Dower or Power of 
thirds in my Real Estate as follows namely that she be decently and 
honorably Supported by my Executors for one Year from my decease, 
and live in my present dwelling house and that my Negro Woman 
Sylvia (B) serve my said Wife said Year, and be Also supported by 
my Executors : and from the expiration of said one Year and during 
her continuing my Widow I order that she be paid at the expiration 
or end of each Successive six Months forty Spanish Mill'd Dollars or 
Equivalent in such specie as may pass at the Respective Rates of 



1 For references A. B, C, etc., see notes at end. 



John Chandler and His Will. 7 

payment but if my said Wife shall Marry again that then she have 
paid her twenty MilPd Dollars at the end of each Six Months from 
the time of her Marriage to the time of her death said sums to be 
paid by my Executors duly and timely but if my said Wife in Lieu of 
the payments in the above paragraph mentioned choose to hold one- 
third of my Real Estate for life, she is at her Liberty. 

I give to my Daughter Lucretia Chandler (C) and to heirs One 
hundred and forty pounds lawfull money. 

I give to Sarah Paine (D) (Daughter of Nathanael Paine deceased) 
my Wives Grand Daughter the sum of Eight pounds to be paid her 
at day of Marriage or Arriving of the Age of twenty one Year which 
shall first happen, and proper mourning. 

I give to Dolly Droun (E) a Grand Daughter of my Wives now 
with me Eight pounds to be paid her at day of Marriage or arriving 
to twenty one Years of Age which shall first happen and proper 
Mourning. 

I give to my Grand daughter Dolly Chandler (F) two Silver 
Porringers both to be of the Value of Six pounds thirteen shillings 
and four pence. 

I Give to my Grand children, the children of my late Dear 
Daughter Mary Green (G) deceased Children of Benjamin Green of 
Boston Merchant, Two hundred pounds Lawful money to be divided 
Equally between them (Saving to Benjamin the Eldest son a double 
part) and to their legal Representatives to be paid in one Year after 
my decease by my Executors. 

I Give to my Daughter Esther Clap (H) her heirs and Assignee 
Two hundred pounds lawfull money to be paid in one Year after my 
decease by my Executors. 

I Give to my Daughter Hannah Williams (I) her heirs and 
Assigns Two hundred pounds Lawfull money to be paid in one Year 
After my decease by my Executors. 

I Give to my Daughter Lucretia Chandler (J) her heirs and 
Assigns, Two hundred pounds lawfull money to be paid in one Year 
after my decease by my Executors. 

I Give to my Daughter Elizabeth Putnam (K) and to her heirs 
and Assigns Two hundred pounds lawfull money to be paid in one 
Year after my decease by my Executors. 

I Give to my Daughter Katharine Willard (L) her heirs and 
Assigns Two hundred pounds lawfull money to be paid in one Year 
after my decease by my Executors. 

I Give to my Daughter Sarah Paine (M) her heirs and Assigns 
Two hundred pounds lawfull money to be paid in one Year after my 
decease by my Executors hereby expressly providing that Sixty six 
pounds thirteen shillings and four pence part thereof be applied 
towards giving my Grandson William Paine (N) Eldest son of my 
said Daughter Sarah a College Education if he lives and will Learn 
but if he refuse such Education then said sum with the Interest be 



8 John Chandler and His Will. 

paid him on his arriving to the age of twenty one Years, and I order 
said sum to be under the Government of his Father my son in Law 
Timothy Paine, and I recommend his Education to him, but if my 
said Grandson dies before he arrives to the age aforesaid that in such 
case what I have given him revert to his Mother her heirs and 
Assigns. 

I Give unto my good Friend the Rev d M r Thaddeus Maccarty a 
good Mourning Ring. 

And in case my said Dear Wife shall dwell in Worcester my Will 
and pleasure is that my Negro Sylvia aforesaid serve her mistress 
during her continuing my Widow. 

And in order to Enable my sons John Chandler (0) jun r & 
Gardiner Chandler whom I constitute and appoint Executors of this 
my last Will and Testament and the Survivors of them to fulfill and 
perform all and every the Articles and clauses aforementioned and for 
paying my Just debts funeral Charges and Legacies and bequests of 
every Sort nothing excepted, I give to them my said Sons and to their 
Respective heirs and Assigns all my Estate Real and personal what- 
soever and wheresoever of every sort kind or denomination nothing 
excepted (Excepting one third of my Wearing Apparrell of all sorts 
which I give to my Grandsons the children of my Daughter Sarah) and my 
Will and express mind and pleasure is that whatever remains of my 
Estate after my Just debts funeral Charges Legacies and Bequests as 
aforesaid are paid that the same be divided between my two Sons 
their heirs and assigns in the following proportion viz 1 that my 6on 
John his heirs and Assigns hold and Enjoy three-fifths thereof, and 
my son Gardiner his heirs and Assigns Two fifth parts thereof, And 
Whereas I received of M r Simpson of Boston One hundred thirty 
three pounds, six shillings and eight pence for Land my said Wife 
sold him lying in Boston, thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence 
part thereof was by her desire paid to her Daughter Sarah Drown, a 
like sum to my son John Chandler who married her Daughter and a 
like sum to her son Samuel Clarke Paine now deceased, I therefore 
my Executors in convenient time to pay the remaining part of said 
sum being Ninety three pounds, six shillings and eight pence, with 
Interest from my decease till paid, to my said Dear Wife her heirs or 
Assigns. I gave my said Wife a small Writing relating to the same which 
is to be void on the above sum being paid, this last sum of Ninety 
three pounds six shillings and eight pence is to be paid out of my 
Estate before my sons come to a Division. And I Subject my Real 
Estate to all the payments and Legacies aforementioned, as well my 
said sons. 

And Whereas I have demands on several persons whose Lands are 
made over to me 1 for sums of money by me advanced I do hereby 
fully Impower my Executors or the Survivor of them to adjust in 
Equity the same with all persons concern' d and to Execute proper 



I. e., in mortgage. 



John Chandler and His Will. 9 

and due discharges or acquitances for that purpose, and I expect a 
punctual compliance with this my mind. 

And finally I ratify and confirm this Instrument and this only to 
be my last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have here- 
unto set my hand and Seal this tenth day of November in Thirty 
third Year of his Majesty's Reign, Anno Dom: 1759. 

The words in the first page Cfrom my decease) between the 19th 

and 20th lines and the words (part thereof) between the fourth and 

lines from the bottom of the second page, and the letters (ing) 

between the 12th and 13th lines of the third page all Interlined before 

Signing &c. 

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and 
declared by John Chandler the Testator to be his last 
Will & Testament in presence of us Witnesses (P) . 

her 
Jane -f- Ricky John Chandler & a Seal. 

mark 
Wm Swan July 14: 1761 I delivered my Daughter Lucretia 

Samuel Bridge Chandler forty pounds part of the within Legacy of 
William Jordan One hundred and forty pounds, and in October 6: 1701 
James Black £106. by Webbs Security. 

Attr. JOHN CHANDLER. 

October 29th, 1761, 1161 I Advanced Twenty seven pounds, six 
shillings and eight pence in all one hundred and seventy three pounds 
6s/8d being £33. 6. 8 towards her last Legacy. 

J. CHANDLER. 

Worcester ss That on the tenth day of September Anno Domini 
1762. Then the within Instrument purporting the last Will & Test- 
ament of the Hon bIe John Chandler Esq r late of Worcester deceased ; 
was presented for Probate before Us the Subscribers by John Chand- 
ler and Gardiner Chandler Executors therein named then present 
Jane Ricky, William Swan and Samuel Bridge three of the Witnesses 
thereto, who made Oath, That they saw the Testator sign, Seal, and 
heard him declare the said Instrument to be his last Will and Testa- 
ment, and that they with William Jordan and James Black Sub- 
scribed their names together as Witnesses to the Execution thereof in 
the Testators presence ; And that he was then (to the best of their 
Judgment) of Sound and disposing Mind. 

ARTEMAS WARD [Q] 
JOSIAH BREWER 

CODICIL. 

Whereas I John Chandler of Worcester in the County of Worcester 
&c. Esq r having on the tenth day of November A. D. 1759 made and 
executed an Instrument purporting my last Will and Testament in 
and by which my two Sons John Chandler jun r and Gardiner Chand- 



10 John Chandler and His Will. 

ler the Executors of my said last "Will and Testament are to pay 
(among other Legacies) therein bequested to my Daughters therein 
expressed and Named Two hundred pounds to each of them &c. the 
Legacy to my Daughter Sarah Paine having an exception in that part 
thereof is applied or set apart for the Education of her son William 
as by my said Will appears. And Whereas in and by my said last 
Will and Testament I gave to my Grand children the children of my 
late Daughter deceased viz 1 Mary the late Wife of Mr. Benjamin 
Green of Boston the sum of Two hundred pounds like money to be 
divided among them as is therein mentioned which amount to four- 
teen hundred pounds and by my Will is to be paid in one Year after 
my decease which sums may be very difficult to Raise by that time, 
as there are divers other sums to be raised by my said Executors, 
Therefore my mind and Will is that my said Executors have three 
Years to pay said Legacies, Amounting to said sum of fourteen hun- 
dred pounds viz* one third part in one Year one third part in two 
Year and one third part in three Year from my decease with Lawfull 
Interest for the last third part for one Year only and further my mind 
and Will is that if my son in Law Timothy Paine Esq r and my 
Daughter Sarah Paine his Wife incline to have my Negro boy (Wor- 
cester) (R) they may for fifty three pounds Lawfull money in part of 
her Legacy and towards the first third part thereof desiring whoever 
has him he may be Treated with humanity & Tenderness and at as 
little distance from his Mother as may well be, and I desire their 
Spiritual good may be promoted. And Whereas I have given to my 
Dear Wife the Service of my Negro Woman during her continuing 
my Widow and dwelling in Worcester, I also order my said Negro 
woman to have a proper bed and beding to ly on said time. 

And Finally it is my Express Will and pleasure that what is afore- 
written be accounted deemed understood and taken as part of my 
last Will and Testament to all Intents and purposes faithfully to be 
complied with by my Executors, as I establish this as a Codicil to my 
last Will and Testament aforesaid or by what other name it may be 
called. 

In Testament whereof I have set my hand and Seal this 10 lh day of 
March A. D. 1761.— 
Signed Sealed pronounced & 
declared by the said J. Chandler as 
a part of his Last Will & Testa- 
ment or Codicil thereto in presence of us John Chandler & a Seal 

Thomas Wheeler 

Luke Brown 

David Earll 
Worcester ss that on the tenth day of September Anno Dom' 1762 
the foregoing Instrument purporting part of the last Will and Testa- 
ment of the Hon ble John Chandler Esq r late of Worcester deceaced 
was presented for Probate before us the Subscribers by John Chand- 



John Chandler and His Will. 11 

ler and Gardiner Chandler Executors of his last Will and Testament 
then present Thomas Wheeler Luke Brown and David Earll the 
Witnesses thereto who made Oath that they the Testator Sign, 

Seal, and heard him Publish and declare this Instrument to be part 
of his last Will and Testament and that they Subscribed their names 
together as Witnesses to the Execution thereof, In the Testators 
presence and that he was then (to the best of their Judgment) of 
Sound disposing Mind 

^. , f Artemas Ward 
Signed *, 

I Josiah Brewer 

Province of Massachusetts Bay. 

At a Supreme Court of Probate held by his Excellency the Governor 
with the Council or Assistants at the Council Chamber in Boston on 
the fifteenth day of September A: D 1762 

The within and before written Instrument purporting the last Will 
and Testament of John Chandler late of Worcester in the County of 
Worcester Esq r deceased and Codicil thereto being exhibited to this 
Court for Probate and the Witnesses whose names are thereunto 
subscribed, having been sworn in due form as set forth in the annexed 
Certificates. The said Instruments are by said Court approved and 
allowed as the last Will and Testament of the said deceased and 
Codicil thereto ; and Administration thereof and of his Estate is com- 
mitted to John Chandler and Gardiner Chandler Esq rs the Executors 
therein named well and faithfully to execute the said Will and to 
Administer the said Estate according thereto. 

A. OLIVER, Acting Register. 



THE EXECUTOR'S BOND. 

Know all Men by these presents that We John Chandler and Gar- 
diner Chandler both of Worcester in the County of Worcester Esq r3 
and Timothy Ruggles of Hardwick in said County Esq r and all within 
his Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, are 
holden and stand firmly bound and obliged to Andrew Oliver Esq r 
Secretary of the Province aforesaid and acting Register of the Supreme 
Court of Probate within the same, and for and in behalf of the said 
Court, in the full and just sum of Three Thousand pounds (S) law- 
ful money of the Province aforesaid to be paid unto the said Andrew 
Oliver, his Successors in the said Office, his or their Assigns, to the 
payment whereof We bind ourselves, and each of us, each of our 
heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns, firmly by these Presents, 
Sealed with our Seals, dated at Boston the sixteenth day of Septem- 
ber Anno Domini 1762, and the second Year of his Magesty's Reign 

The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bounden 
John Chandler and Gardiner Chandler Esq rs Executors of the last 
Will and Testament of their late Father the Hon w " John Chandler 
Esq r late of Worcester aforesaid deceased, do pay or cause to be paid 



12 John Chandler and His Will. 

all the Just debts and Legacies of their said Testator, and also shall 
render a just and true Accompt of their Administration upon Oath, 

when lawfully required so to do. Then this Obligation to be void, 
Otherwise to remain in full Force. 

Signed Sealed & Be- John Chandler & a Seal 

liv d in presence of Gard' Chandler & a Seal 

Wm Baker Tim Ruggles & a Seal 
Jn° Cotton 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 

Suffolk ss 

Supreme Judicial Court. 
I, John Noble, Clerk of said Court, hereby certify that the fore- 
going is a true copy of the record in re John Chandler's Will, con- 
tained in "Probate Records — 1760 — 1830— Vol. I." page 16 to page 22 
inclusive; — said volume being among the records of said Court, now 
in the Clerk's Office. 

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this seventh day of 
February, A. D. 1902. 

JOHN NOBLE, Clerk 
(Seal) 

Copy of Will &c. Allowed in Supreme Court of Probate Sept. 15, 
1762. 

This copy riled with Probate Records of Worcester County Feb'y 
20, 1902. 

GEORGE H. HARLOW, Register 

Rec Vol. 567 Page 141 

(A) The testator's first wife was Hannah Gardiner of Gardiner's 
Island, which lies to the south of New London between Montauk and 
Green port. She was the mother of his nine children, all but one of 
whom survived their father and were remembered in his will. His 
second wife, Sarah, was the widow of Nathaniel Paine, who came to 
Worcester from Bristol, R, I., in 1738 and built the house still stand- 
ing behind two elm trees on the west side of Lincoln street. Of the 
children of Nathaniel and Sarah Paine a daughter Dorothy became 
the wife of John Chandler; another daughter, Sarah, married 
Thomas Droune. Their son Timothy became famous in Worcester 
annals. Another son, Nathaniel, had a daughter Sarah. 

(B) The " negro woman Sylvia" was a slave. She continued to 
live with the testator's family descendants until May, 1804, when she 
died at the age of 105 years. 1 Probably few of the present inhab- 
itants of Worcester are conscious of the fact that slaves were once 
held here. The number was not large, however, and they were 
treated generally like the hired servants, often sitting at table with 
their masters "in the true style of republican equality." The whole 
number in the State at any one time did probably not exceed 4500. 2 

1 Lincoln's History of Worcester, p. 313. 

2 See a paper by Charles Deane, LL.D.. on "The Connection of Massachusetts 
with the Slave Trade and with Slavery," in Proceedings of the American Antiqua- 
rian Society, Oct. 1886. 



John Chandler and His Will. 13 

(C) Lucretia Chandler, the seventh child, appears to have been 
a favorite, for her several legacies amounted to £340, of which her 
father had advanced a little more than one-half at the time of 
his death. 

(D) See (A). 

(E) Daughter of Thomas Droune. See (A). 

(F) Dolly, or Dorothy Chandler, daughter and fourth child of 
Refugee John, married Col. Samuel Ward of Lancaster. 

(G) Mary was the oldest child of the testator. 

(H) Esther, the second child, married the Rev. Thomas Clapp of 
Taunton. 

(I) Hannah, the sixth child, married John Williams of Roxbury. 

(J) Lucretia. See (C). Married Col. John Murray of Rutland. 
He was a native of Ireland, and became one of the most prominent 
and influential men of Rutland. He represented the town in the 
General Court for twenty years in succession, but when he accepted 
the office of Mandamus Counsellor, he was driven from the town, and 
all his real estate was confiscated except one farm, which was retained 
for a loyal son. 

(K) Elizabeth, the eighth child, married James Putnam, the last 
Attorney-General of this Province under the crown (vide Lincoln's 
History, p. 227). He died a refugee in New Brunswick in 1786. 

(L) Katharine, the youngest child, married Levi Willard of 
Lancaster. 

(M) Sarah, the fifth child, married Timothy Paine, son of tes- 
tator's widow by her first husband, Nathaniel Paine. Our associate, 
the Nathaniel Paine of today, is great-grandson of this Timothy and 
Sarah. The story of her encounter at repartee with John Adams, 
then a schoolmaster in Worcester and afterwards President of the 
United States, has often been told. It may be found on page 80 in 
Wall's "Reminiscences of Worcester." 

(N) For the story of William Paine, see Lincoln's History, page 
255, etc. 

(O) John and Gardiner Chandler were the only two sons of the 
testator, whose desire to keep all his real estate in the family name is 
apparent. To John the elder and his namesake he gave three-fifths 
and to Gardiner two-fifths. They made a speedy settlement with 
their mother for her rights ; for we find her quitclaim deed to them 
made and executed on the same day that the will was presented for 
probate. 1 



•KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS 
that I Sarah Chandler of Worcester in the County of Worcester widow in consider- 
ation that my two sons in law John Chandler & Gardiner Chandler both of Wor- 
cester aforesaid Esqs. Excors to ye last will and testament of my late husband 
John Chandler Esq. late of Worcester deed, have given me a bond conditioned to 
pay me the sum of fifteen Pounds from and after ye first day of May next at ye 
end of every six months during the term of my natural life so in that proportion 
for any part of said six months if I should die before the same shall be compleated 



14 John Chandler and His Will. 

(P) Of the witnesses to the will Samuel Bridge was a man prom- 
inent in town affairs, holding some of the minor offices for many 
years. The others are unknown to fame. Probably some of them 
were servants of the testator. 

The witnesses to the codicil were all men of standing in the com- 
munity. 

(Q) It appears that the will and codicil were first persented for 
probate before Artemas Ward and Josiah Brewer. Mr. "Ward had 
just been appointed a judge of the Court of Sessions, and in this 
capacity apparently took first cognizance of the matter, but having 
no further authority sent it up to the high court. I do not find that 
Josiah Brewer held any judicial office, although he is one of the few 
men who were always styled Esquire in the town records. Thus in 
March, 1757, "Mr." Samuel Mower, Josiah Brewer, "Esq.," and 
"Capt. ' ' James Goodwin were appointed a committee to settle accounts 
with the Town Treasurer. In March, 1760, Mr. Brewer was chosen a 
member of the committee to draft a plan for a new meeting-house. His 
name in the records appears for the last time in July, 1768, when he was 
allowed his bill for plans sold to the town. Lincoln gives himthe title of 
Colonel, and says he was the first settler of the town of Cummington 
in Hampshire County. In the Gazetteer of Massachusetts, edited by 
Rev. Elias Nason, it is said that the first settler was a Mr. Mclntire 
from Scotland, who moved there in 1770. Probably the two men 
moved there about the same time. Judge Ward was afterwards 
appointed by Congress as first of the major-generals created in 1775, 
and was chief commander of the American army besieging Boston 
until the arrival of Washington. 

I do therefore by these presents for myself my heirs Excors and Admors remise 
release and forever quitclaim unto the said John Chandler and Gardiner Chandler 
their heirs & assigns forever all my right title and interest of in to all and every 
part of the said deceased's real estate wheresoever it may lye, that I might enjoy 
dureing life as my dower therein by law and the last will & testament of sd deceased. 
TO HAVE and TO HOLD the same to them the said John and Gardiner 
Chandler their heirs and assigns forever, debaring myself from all claim thereto 
only reserving unto myself the liberty of living & being maintained in the present 
mansion house agreeable to said will until the first day of May next at which time 
I engage to remove out of said house. 

As witness my hand and seal this tenth day of Septr. A. D. 1762. 

Signed sealed and delivered 

in presence of us Sarah Chandler (seal) 

Thomas Chandler 

Timo. Paine 



Worcester ss. Septr. 10th 1762. 

Mrs Sarah Chandler acknowledged this instrument to be her free act & Deed. 

Coram Timo. Paine, Just. Pais. 
Reed Octr. 31st 1765 & accordingly Entered & Exam'd 

Pr Timo. Paine, Regr. 

Worcester, ss. A true copy of Record, recorded with Worcester District Deeds , 
Book 55, Page 206. 

Attest : Daniel Kent, 

Register. 



John Chandler and His Will. 15 

(R) The proviso for the transfer of the negro boy Worcester to 
Timothy and Sarah Paine for £53 in part of legacy of course con- 
stituted a sale. It is evident that the "boy" was son of the woman 
Sylvia, who was then more than sixty years old. The title of boy was 
used, as at the south, for a male in servitude of whatever age. 

(S) The penal sum of £3000 mentioned in the bond seems small, 
but it was only to secure payment of the legacies, which were less 
than that amount. Timothy Ruggles, the co-surety, was as prom- 
inent a citizen of Hardwick as John Murray was of Rutland. He 
was a mandamus counsellor, and, like nearly all the men who were 
intimate with the Chandlers up to the time of the Revolution, was a 
loyalist and a refugee. 



Lfc at 'QQ 



JOHN CHANDLER 
HIS WILL 






